International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF E-GLASS FIBER EPOXY AND
FLY ASH COMPOSITES FOR AUTOMOBILE APPLICATIONS
Sakamma G1, Dr. M. Prasanna kumar2
1P.G
Student, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University BDT Engineering College Davangere, Karnataka, India.
2Associate professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University BDT Engineering College Davangere,
Karnataka, India.
---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract – This project attempts to review and study the
feasibility of implementation of the FRP composite material
for fabrication of helical coil spring by using filament winding
technique. For experimental work, three helical springs of
rectangular cross section with different material such as epoxy
as a matrix material and glass fiber with fly ash are the
reinforcement are used. The different compositions are C1
(70% E-Glass fiber, 20% epoxy and 10% fly ash), C2 (60% EGlass fiber, 30% epoxy and 10% fly ash) and C3 (50% E-Glass
fiber, 40% Epoxy and 10% fly ash) for spring. It is found spring
stiffness (K) of glass fiber, epoxy and flyash helical spring is
greater than steel-coil spring with reduced weight. The
composition C1 shows better compressive strength and
stiffness than compositions C2 and C3.
Key Words: Helical coil spring, Filament winding
technique, E-Glass fiber, epoxy, Fly Ash, etc.
1 INTRODUCTION
Fig-1: Shock absorber
2 COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Composite material is recognized a material prepared
from two or more constituent materials with expressively
different physical or chemical properties.
Spring are mostly designed to absorb and accumulate then
energy, then release it. Designing of the springs, strain
energy of the material is the key factor. Materials, which
have lower modulus and densities, will be having greater
ability of specific strain energy. Replacement of steel
material by composite materials makes substantial weight
reduction. With introduction of new materials, designs
related and processing problems will also rise. Key reason is
fiber reinforcement composite (FRP) are anisotropic
materials. Hence, they are distinctive compared to
traditional materials. Automobile manufacturers are putting
massive effort reduce weight of vehicles to attain fuel
economy.
1.1 Shock absorbers
The shock controls spring motion by damping
(absorbing) energy from spring. Shock absorbs energy by
forcing oil through valves so whenever it is stimulated. Takes
lot of energy to push oil through valves so when spring is
done pumping. Shocks also control reaction of body to road.
Stiffer shock tends to transmit more road irregularities to
driver but will also not pitch and roll as considerable as
vehicle with softer shocks. Thus shocks, like springs, can be
transformed to obtain a personalized ride.
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
Fig-2: Comparison between conventional monolithic and
Composite material.
2.1 Types of composite materials.
Composite materials are categorized based on
reinforcement (Glass, carbon, aramid) used and matrix
(Thermoset, Thermoplastic).
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 82
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
Arrangement of composite materials.


Based on type of Matrix materials.

Ceramic matrix composite (CMC)

Polymer matrix (PMC)

Metal matrix (MMC)

Mr. Shrikant Devidas Sakhare, Miss. Araju Alam
Patel. [1] Conducted experimental on in this
research work we manufactured two helical springs
of rectangular cross-section with different materials
known as GLARE and CLARE to get which composite
spring is better to replace with steel spring. Here we
are going to manufacture glass fibre epoxy and
carbon epoxy spring with the reinforcement of
aluminium wire mesh. We take 50%epoxy and 50%
glass fibres for glass spring and 20%carbon,
30%glass, 50%epoxy for carbon spring. We
concluded that cost of CLARE spring is 57% more
than glass spring but the weight 13% less than
GLARE spring and other factors of Clare spring are
better than glass epoxy spring i.e. shear stress,
failure load..

D Abdul Budan and T S Manjunatha. [2]
Determines the feasibility of replacing metal coil
spring with composite coil spring. Three different
types of springs were prepared using glass fiber,
carbon fiber andocombination of lassi fiber and
carbon fiber. Objective is to reduce weight of spring.
According to investigational results, spring rate of
carbon fiber spring is 34% more than glass fiber
spring and 45% more than glass fiber/carbon fiber
spring. Weight of carbon fiber spring iso18% a
reduced amount than glass fiber spring, 15% less
than Glass fiber/carbon fiber spring and 80% less
than steel spring.
Based on Reinforcement

Fibre reinforcement polymer

Particulate composite

Structural composite
2.2 Fiber reinforced composites (FRP):
Composite fibers are substantial class reinforcements,
anticipated circumstances and transfer strength to matrix
Mainly, we have different types of fibres namely:

Glass Fibers

Carbon fibre

Silicon carbide fibres

High silica

Quartz fibres

Metal fibers and wires

Graphite fibres

Boron fibres

Aramid fibres
4. SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR AUTOMOBILE
APPLICATION
2.3 Objectives of work
Manual possessions such density, young’s modulus, and
Compression strength, etc. E-glass fibre, epoxy and flyash.
Objectives of the work is as follows:









Recognize, define, and then recognize values some
kind’s springs with helical looseness coils extension
springs.
Identify are principals process springs, in what way
to analyse drive existence captivated of coils.
Selection are material of helical spring suspension.
Select composite materials are E-Glass fiber, epoxy
and flash.
To prepare helical groove cutting on the wooden
mould.
By using Filament winding method.
Fabrication and Experimentation helical spring,
containing compatibility with permissible stresses.
To construct suitable helical spring suspension for
comfort driving.
To determine compression stress, deflection, spring
constant, fiber volume fraction.
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
Table-1: Properties of material.
Properties
E-glass
fiber
Epoxy resin
Elongation
4.88%
2%
Density
2.5g/cc
1.2g/cc
Elasticity
modulus
73 Gpa
3.45Gpa
Tension
strength
2.5 Gpa
1.3 Gpa
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 83
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
4.1 Glass Fiber
Glass fiber is white in color its accessible is dry fiber
fabric. There are type of glass fiber




E-Glass: Respectable power
S-Glass: - Get 40% developed power, which
conceding
properties
at
higher
temperature.
C-Glass:-Have deterioration resistance.
QUARTZ:-Have less dielectric properties,
good for antennae.
4.2 E-Glass Fiber.
E-glass fiber this is types of glass fibers alkali free,
extreme electrically resistive glass prepared by alumina
calcium borosilicate. E-glass is recognized its then industry
has the general resolve fiber of it strong, electrical
resistance. Commonly recycled fiber in fibre reinforced
polymer combination manufacturing.
Fig-4: Epoxy resin and hardener.
Lapox L-12:It is melted, unchanged epoxy resin for average
thickness which container be recycled by numerous
hardeners of creation Glass fiber reinforced combinations.
Hardener K-6:Less viscosity at scope temperature of drying molten
hardener. Normally working of hand layup presentations.
Mixture is added to plastic composition to control
curing action by taking part.
4.4 Fly ash
Fig-3: woven roving E-glass fiber
They are significantly more exclusive than E-glass. Its
benefits contain increase toughness capacity of objects, less
price, more chemical resistance, it’s very good separating
things. Negatives consist of decrease flexible strength,
deprived linkage to polymers, more specific gravity, and
sensitivity to abrasion less fatigue strength. E-glass fibre as
elastic modulus of 72.5Gpa, possesses density are 2.55
g/cm3.
4.3 Epoxy (Thermosetting).
Epoxy is used as matrix material for fabrication of
composite. Comprehensive variation of drying agent aimed
at epoxy resins is existing dependent on procedure its things
necessary. Generally recycled smoking agents for epoxies
comprise amines, polyamides, phenolic resins, anhydrides,
isocyanates and polymercaptans. Selection its resin and
hardeners rest on application, procedure certain, and things
anticipated epoxy hardener scheme too distresses things of
treated material. Using dissimilar kinds and extents of
hardener which, incline to controller cross relation density
varies construction.
Resin
: - LAPOX L-12.
Fig-5: Fly ash
Fly ash, fine particulate waste material produced by
pulverized coal-based thermal power station, is an
environmental pollutant, it has potential to be resource
material. It is used in cement, concrete and other cement
based applications.
Generic name waste product due burning of coal or
lignite in boiler of thermal power plant is crushed fuel ash.
Milled fuel ash can be fly ash, bottom ash, pond ash or
mound ash. Fly ash is pulverized fuel ash extracted from fuel
gases by any appropriate process like cyclone parting or
electrostatic precipitation.
5 TERMINOLOGY OF SPRING
1 Measurement of spring constant:
Spring constant is well-defined as ratio of force acting
on spring to displacement of spring. Spring constant or
spring rate is force essential to compress a spring by 1mm.
Spring rates be influenced on rigidity modulus, number
coil sand dimensions of spring.
Hardener : - LAPOX HARDENER K-6.
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 84
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Vm=
Vf+ Vm= 1
Vc= Vf+Vm.
2 Density(
:
Density of composite material can be defined as
ratio of weight of composite material to volume of
composite material and is expressed as
Fig-6: Spring of rectangular cross-section
Spring constant (k) =
Where,
W = load (N),
ρfvf +ρmvm
c=
f
+
m
3 Weight Fractions:
= deflection (mm)
Supercilious that composite material involves of
fibers and matrix material, weight of composite
material is equal to sum of weight of the fibers and
weight of matrix. Therefore,
2 Specific strain energy
It is distance moved by spring under action of load.
U=
Wc= Wf + Wm
This designates that material with inferior young’s
modulus €, density ( will developed specific strain energy
under same stress (
CvC=
Where, Wc- weight of composite material
Wf – weight of fiber
condition.
Wm – weight of matrix
3 spring deflection
Deflection and plays imperious role during design of
helical springs. Deflection of helical compression spring
for circular cross-section is calculated by formula
Wf + Wm=1
Wf =
and
Wm =
=
Where W is Load, C is spring index D/d, is number
of turns, G is modulus of rigidity and d is diameter of
wire. Helical compression spring with rectangular crosssection is shown in fig. deflection of helical compression
spring for circular cross section is premeditated by
formula given below,
=
6. EXPERIMENTATION AND FABRICATION OF
COMPOSITE SPRING
Select specific teak wood for making mould and then
with help of lathe machine the thread on that wood and
prepared mould for manufacturing the composite helical
spring through Filament winding technique. Test specimens
are for spring constant, compression test, fiber volume
fraction.
5.4 Measurement of Fiber Volume Fraction:
1 Volume fraction (Vf):
Consider composite material that contain fibres
and matrix material. Volume of composite material
is equal to sum of volume of fibres and volume of the
matrix.
Fig-7: Terminology for rectangular cross-sectional spring
Vf=
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 85
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Table-2 Compositions for composite spring:
SI. No
E-Glass fibre
Epoxy
Fly ash
1
70%
20%
10%
2
60%
30%
10%
3
50%
40%
10%
6.1 Fabrication process
Fig-9: Arrangements filament winding method.
In composite spring fabrication the ratio of glass fiber,
epoxy and fly ash are in used. First to arrangements of
filament winding method by using lathe machine.
Fabrication of three compositions of composite helical
springs. Take wooden pattern to fixing in lathe machine.
Mold relief cause Vaseline used in mold. As show in figure
(8) Fiber wound over the wooden pattern as show in figure
(9). All kinds of springs are fabricated through same method.
Wooden pattern having profile of spring is arranged first by
using lathe machine. There are three compositions are, C1
(70%E-Glass fibre, 20% epoxy, and 10% fly ash), C2 (60% EGlass fibre, 30% epoxy and 10% fly ash) C3(50% E-Glass
fibre,40% epoxy, 10% fly ash). Next the process of
fabrication compositions mixed properly with in certain
time. By using filament winding technic by manually to fill
the wooden pattern mould. E-Glass fibre (woven roving like
thread), epoxy and fly ash fixed properly wound over
wooden pattern as show in fig (10). Next finally fabricated
composite coil springs take it breakdown wooden mould as
shown in fig (11) are fabrication spring atmospheric
temperature for 24 hours. After removed excess resin on
surface of spring is removed by filling. Break down wooden
pattern cured spring is removed from the wooden pattern.
To maintained fly ash composition but only change is E-Glass
fiber and epoxy resin. The cured spring has the dimension of
L=195mm, D0=54mm, D=47mm, b=12mm, t=8mm and n=12.
Fig-10: Fiber wound over the mould
Fig-11: Three different compositions of fabricated spring
7. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fabrication of composite helical spring’s objectives
of work is to a light weight of the vehicle and to study their
strength of materials and properties of materials. The
composite springs using Glass/Epoxy resin and fly ash
material combination has been fabricated using wooden
pattern and finally we take result of composite spring by
using conventional lathe machine.
Table-3: Comparison between steel spring and different
compositions of composite springs.
Properties
Fig-8: Mould making
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
Steel
spring
Composition
C1
Composition
C2
Composition
C3
Spring
constant
(N/mm)
4.5
5.98
5.18
5.28
Max
80
89
88
84
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 86
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
7.3 Load v/s Deflection Curve for Composition (C3):
compression
(mm)
Load at Max.
compression
(N)
360
390.90
380.90
370.90
Weight of
the spring
(gm.)
602
280
220
180
Spring index
6.75
6.75
6.75
6.75
Failure load
(N)
950
110
1000
950
7.1 Load V/S Deflection Curve for Composition (C1):
Chart-3: Graph of load –deflection of composition C3.
7.4 Load v/s Deflection Curve for Different Compositions
for Composite Spring:
Chart-1: Graph of load –deflection of composition C1.
7.2 Load V/S Deflection Curve for Composition (C2):
Chart-4: Graph of load-deflection of different
compositions
CONCLUSIONS

In this project, three types of compositions of
composite helical spring have been developed, and
which are less weight compare to steel spring and
more stiffness.

By the application of composite helical coil spring,
the wooden mould have been prepared for
composite spring. By using wooden mould
composite spring have been fabricated by using Eglass fibre, epoxy and fly ash has a filler material.

Filament winding technique were used for
fabrication of composite helical springs with lathe.

Composition C1 (70% E-Glass fibre + 20%Epoxy
+10%Fly ash ), it has more compressive strength
and stiffness compare to other two compositions C2
Chart-2: Graph of load –deflection of composition C2.
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 87
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 08|Aug 2019
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
(60% E-Glass fibre + 30% Epoxy + 10%flyash)and
composition C3 (50%E-Glass +40%epoxy
+10%flyash)

Weight of the spring fabricated the fibres is less
than steel spring. Materials cost of the composite
spring is more than the steel spring. Than
acceptable in the quantity of fuel protected by
expending e-glass fiber spring now vehicles.

Higher compressive strength and stiffness also
more then the steel spring, fiber volume fraction,
density is increases.

Hence load substitute on the composite spring are
lower than the steel spring, therefore fatigue load
acting on the composite spring is less when
compared to steel spring.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
Chang-Hsuan Chiu, Chung-Li Hwan, Han-Shuin Tsai,
Wei-Ping Lee, “An experimental investigation into
the mechanical behaviors of Helical composite
springs”, Composite structures 77 (2007) 331-340.
T. S. Manjunatha and D. Abdul Budan "Manufacturing and experimentation of composite
helical springs for automobile suspension". Vol.1,
No.2, July 2012, ISSN 2278-0149.
Yahya Kara (2017) A Review: Fiber Reinforced
Polymer Composite helical springs. J Mater Science
Nanotechnol 5(1):101
D. Abdul Budan, T.S. Manjunatha. ―Investigation on
the Feasibility of Composite Coil Spring for
Automotive Applications‖, vol 46(2010).
© 2019, IRJET
|
Impact Factor value: 7.34
|
ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal
|
Page 88